Coach Larkin is an accomplished cheerleader and multi-dimensional cheer coach, who focuses on education, creating strong, high-performing cheerleaders and developing productive citizens. She comes to UIC with a unique combination of experience in business, education, and athletics. She has over 20 years of cheerleading experience, with All-Star (GYMTIGER), High School (Auburn High School), College (Purdue University), NFL (Baltimore Ravens) and coaching private camps. She is an HR and recruiting consultant and owns a recruiting/staffing firm called LARK The Agency. Larkin is a southern belle with southern charm, raised in Auburn, AL.
Coach Larkin was a 4-year Varsity co-ed cheerleader at Purdue University. Where she was also named Miss Purdue in 2006. She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Technology & Manufacturing. After college, Larkin worked in food safety and manufacturing for various companies. She was an Operations Manager for Kraft Oscar Mayer in Madison, WI managing 60+ union employees. After having a successful career with Kraft, she decided to return to school to receive an MBA.
She received her MBA with a focus in Marketing from Morgan State University, meanwhile, her work in Food Safety & Informatics was published in
multiple journals. During her tenure at Morgan, she also cheered for the NFL team Baltimore Ravens. She coached private cheerleading camps and 1:1’s to prepare future cheerleaders for success. Larkin was awarded Rookie Cheerleader of the Year during her first season with the Ravens and later retired alongside Ray Lewis after the team won the Superbowl in 2013.
After graduating with an MBA from Morgan State University, she went on to work at Bloomberg Headquarters in Sales & Analytics in New York. She then dove into a career of sales and recruiting. Larkin has been nationally ranked in both business development and recruiting. She started her own company, LARK The Agency in 2020.
Coach Larkin grew up in a higher education environment, where excellence was expected. Both her mother and father, Dr. Vivian M. Larkin and Dr. Willie D. Larkin are former university faculty and administrators at some of the most prestigious universities in the country, including the University of Georgia, The Ohio State University, Auburn University, University of Wisconsin, and Morgan State University. Her father, Dr. Larkin was the 9
th President of Grambling State University in Louisiana.
Quote:
“The ultimate goal of a cheer coach is to develop the whole person- mind, body and soul. The UIC Cheer Program strives to foster teamwork, self-discipline, character building and skill development. The aim is to take individual talents and blend them into a unified group, while ensuring the safety and well-being for all. Academics is at the forefront of all that we do, while providing opportunities for community service, outreach and engagement. Our cheer athletes enjoy supporting UIC’s various athletic teams and are thrilled to provide an extra boost to enhance a WINNING culture. We take pride in promoting and adding value to the overall brand of the university, serving as ambassadors.
My cheer athletes are learning lifelong skills and qualities that will provide them the foundation to be successful after college and cheer. Every place I have cheered (GYMTIGER, Auburn High School, Purdue University & the Baltimore Ravens), I have learned irrefutable skills and gained best-friends. I’m honored to be able to have a positive impact on our student athletes and look forward to growing future leaders and the UIC cheer program”
Hobbies:
Golf, Fishing, Gardening, Cooking all types of cuisine, Singing, Traveling, Reading
